Senior Media Relations Specialist

Position Summary:

The Senior Media Relations Specialist is part of the Media Relations team at Vanderbilt University and is responsible for developing and implementing media relations plans and tactics to enhance Vanderbilt University’s reputation, and to advance the university’s mission as a premier academic research institution. This position will conduct proactive and reactive media relations, including monitoring news developments, developing messaging, and building productive relationships with local, national, and international news media.

In addition, the Senior Media Relations Specialist will support the Division of Communications’ executive communications strategy and will be responsible for sourcing speaking engagements and contributed content opportunities on behalf of university leadership, including the Chancellor. This includes coordination and placement of bylined articles and op-eds.

Reporting to the Media Relations Manager, the Senior Media Relations Specialist will interact with university leadership, faculty, staff, students, and internal/external stakeholders.

The Media Relations team within the Division of Communications designs and executes integrated communications strategies to protect and enhance Vanderbilt’s local, national and international reputation, and positions the university as one of the world’s leading academic research institutions through the distribution of compelling content across a variety of digital and traditional channels.

About the Work Unit:

The Communications and Marketing team at Vanderbilt University is a dynamic and deeply collaborative group. The division, with all of its departments and sub-teams, serves as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing and executing strategies that inform, engage and inspire others to participate in Vanderbilt University’s global academic and research mission. The division is a key strategic adviser and partner for other divisions in the university, providing comprehensive plans and thoughtful analysis on messaging opportunities and constraints. The Communications and Marketing team continuously seeks innovative solutions to new and emerging challenges in order to deliver results at scale to advance the larger mission, values and priorities of the university.

Key Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Develop and execute media relations plans and tactics that reflect and support the university's overall communications goals.

• Measurably raise the profile of university leadership, including the Chancellor, in key media outlets and with key stakeholders.

• Arrange, facilitate and attend media interviews with faculty, university leadership and the chancellor.

• Conduct media trainings for faculty, staff, coaches and student-athletes on best practices for external engagement.

• Develop and maintain relationships with local, regional, national, and international media outlets.

• Pitch stories to news media, prioritizing national, high priority and international media outlets. Coordinate news interviews.

• Write and edit news releases, rapid response statements, media advisories, messaging, talking points, fact sheets, op-eds, and other media relations materials.

• Follow industry-related news and generate ideas around trending topics to inform angles for media pitches and outreach to reporters and producers, connecting Vanderbilt expertise to current events.

• Attend key events as needed, both on and off-campus, involving Vanderbilt faculty and leadership where members of the media might be present.

• Monitor for media coverage of Vanderbilt faculty experts, institutional projects and Vanderbilt leadership and report to internal stakeholders as appropriate.

• Maintain and keep current internal media lists to be used for media outreach on a variety of topics.

• Works closely with partners across the Division of Communications to coordinate communications efforts and ensure consistent cross-channel messaging.

• Demonstrate excellent news judgment, excellent written communications skills and an excellent sense of what is appropriate for the Vanderbilt brand.

• Demonstrate and communicate about the role media relations plays in the broader communications plan for a department, school, and/or the university as a whole.

• Execute independently on communications priorities and demonstrate an understanding of the evolving media landscape.

• Assist in media training and interview preparation for the Chancellor and others, as necessary.

• Provide overall support as needed and assigned for department priorities.

• Demonstrate understanding of the university's mission, values, goals and priorities and an ability to ensure that all are considered in developing communications strategies.

• Communicate and collaborate effectively with a wide range of audiences—including faculty, students, leadership, staff, alumni, suppliers and agencies.

• Demonstrated ability to adopt and effectively use emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools, to improve productivity, workflow and quality of work.

• Efficiently and effectively manage multiple, complex and results-oriented projects with quick turn-around requirements.

• Adhere to confidentiality and business ethics; demonstrate outstanding judgment and discretion.

• Work outside regular business hours (including nights and weekends) as needed in order to perform job responsibilities, including being officially on-call.

• Perform other relevant duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibility: 

This position does not have supervisory responsibility.

Education and Certifications:

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.

• A Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is preferred.

Qualifications:

• At least 5-7 years of experience in communications, journalism or related field, and a track record of success in media relations is necessary.

• Prior experience with executive communications, reputation management and marketing is preferred.

• Experience in media relations and a full understanding of how to navigate social media tools and audiences is necessary.